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Delaware River beach replenishment project in Salem County finally gets a timeline

BEACH FRONT elsinborobeach.jpg

Elsinboro residents Gill Lippincott and Bob Campbell talk about the beach erosion that has rapidly worsened over the years on Friday, June 20, 2014. Sand once met the concrete on the property. Residents can finally anticipate the beach replenishment project to start in the near future. (Staff Photo by Brittany M. Wehner)

The Oakwood Beach replenishment project is long overdue but residents are in the process of signing easements that will allow the state to begin fixing the erosion problem along the Delaware River.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the non-federal sponsor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the federal sponsor.

The project is at no cost to the township, according to Elsinboro Mayor Sean Elwell.

Representatives from the state attended a township committee meeting last week to answer questions of residents and to lay out the plan of action.

Approximately 105 homeowners need to sign easements that will allow the state to complete work on their properties.

For resident Bob Campbell — who has lived in his home on River Lane for more than 10 years — the green light for the replenishment brings relief. He's already signed his easement.

"It's been a long, hard battle and it'll mean that our houses will be safer," Campbell said Friday.

These homeowners have watched as erosion along the Delaware River has constantly reduced the beach and left their homes vulnerable to severe storm damage and flooding.

Additionally, many homeowners have spent their own money to repair bulk heads as a temporary fix.

Brenda Harned is one homeowner out of 165 who has been impacted by the river and repaired her bulkhead not too long ago, a projectt that on average can cost about $30,000.

"I think it's a relief because I'm gonna have a beach and it's positive because it will protect my house," Harned said, adding that she signed her easement Friday.

As part of the project, the state will need to have four public access points. One unanswered question that residents have is where will these access points be

The concrete wall is damaged from objects crashing into it due to erosion that has rapidly worsened over the years. Sand once met the concrete on the property. Residents can finally anticipate the beach replenishment project to start in the near future. (Staff Photo by Brittany M. Wehner)

"That's the part that concerns everybody the most. There are always concerns about public access and how to control them, who's responsible and how to maintain regulations," Elwell said, adding that the access points haven't been determined.

All that is known at this time is there needs to be a public access point about every quarter mile along the front.

The project plan will replenish approximately two miles along the beachfront by adding a 50-foot-wide berm at an elevation of about six feet including 350 cubic yards of sand to fill, along with periodic maintenance every eight years.

The source of sand and maintenance would be from the Delaware River main channel.

Around 1996, the project was initiated and in Spring 1999, a feasibility study was completed but due to a lack of funding, the beach was never replenished.

Gill Lippincott owns the home that has been in his family since 1906 and is looking forward to finally seeing the beach replenished.

"I think they will stay on top of it. There has been so many frustrations over the years but overall it's good. My family has been pushing this for years," Lippincott said.

"Another interesting thing is how the sand will hold up over the years," the homeowner added.

Officials anticipate the beach fill construction to start on November 1 and last a duration of approximately 47 days.

The total cost will not be known until the state finalizes a contract after going out to bid and awarding the project.